Vacant-seat detector for theaters.



J. E. JOHNSON.

VACANT SEAT DETECTOR FORaIHEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I6, I916.

Patented Feb. 26, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

'J. E. JOHNSON.

VACANT SEAT DETECTOR FOR THEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.T6. 1916.

1,257,873. Patented Feb. 26,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. JOHNSON. OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EMMET S. BURNS, 0F BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

VACANT-SEAT DETECTOR FOR THEATERS.

Application filed August 16, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vacant-Seat Detectors for Theaters, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to signal apparatus and more particularly to apparatus used in open or closed theaters.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide simple and efficient apparatus enabling patrons of theaters to detect vacant seats upon entering the foyer or auditorium of the theater, so that they may be readily accommodated and enabled to quickly, and without confusion, locate the vacant seats most desirable to them; to provide apparatus of the character described which is antomatically operated by the erson seated or departing so that the servlces of ushers may be dispensed with; and to provide apparatus of the character described which is economical in the consumption of electrical energy used in connection with the apparatus.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the followin detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speci cation, and in which drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a display board forming a part of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the apparatus, showing electrical connections.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view through a seat showing electrical apparatus in operative relation thereto.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through a portion of the display board and showing a shutter in operative relation to one of the perforations thereof.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, where similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, A designates a display board provided with a plurality of perforations B, one for each seat in the theater and arranged accordin to the seating plan of the theater; C disp ay devices or shutters for said perforations, each preferably carrying delineations signifying the particular aisle Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1918.

Serial No. 115,276.

and seat it represents; D mechanism for operating said shutters comprising electromagnetic means E and mechanical means F; G seats of the theater; H switch mechanism for each seat; J an electric enerator, such as a storage battery; and, illuminating means for display board A.

Referring first to the display board A, it may be made of suitable opaque material, such as sheet metal, wood, or vulcanized fiber, and may carry delineations 21 and 22, representing the numerals for aisles and seats respectively, thesedelineations applied or affixed to the board preferably with phosphorescent ink or paint, so as to be visible in a darkened space.

The display devices or shutters C are preferably disk-shaped, corresponding in shape to the perforations Band may be pivotally mounted in connection with the board A, as by spindles 23 received by bearings 24 above and below the perforations, each display device or shutter bein independently rotatable so as to render t eir respective perforations in a closed position or an open condition, as is clearly shown in the diagrammatic view in Fig. 2. If desired, each display device maycarry delineations 26 signifying the particular aisle and seat it represents.

When the display board is positioned in a darkened portion of the theater, illuminating means 25 is disposed at one side of the display board in a manner to direct the rays therefrom toward the perforations, the board emitting rays wherever the display device or shutters C are so positioned as to render their respective perforations in an open condition.

A suitable mechanism for operating the shutters C, electromagnetic means E, acting in conjunction with subordinate mechanical means F, is rovided. The means E may comprise a coi 30 for each device C and a permanent bar magnet 31 rigid with the display device C and oscillatable with its spindle 23. The bar 31 is arranged with respect to the device C that, when the latter is closin its respective perforation, the bar lies para lel to the coil 30. However, if the coil'is energized by conducting an electric current therethrou h, the bar will quickl swing out of parallel relation to the coil: carrving with it, the display device C.

The mechanical means F may comprise lugs 32 carried by the spindle 23 at opposite sides of the axis thereof; a spring 33 carried by board A, said spring adapted to engage both lugs 32 when its respective display device is in a position rendering the perforation closed; and, an adjustin bolt 34 by which the desired tension may e placed on the spring at its portion engaging the spindle 23 and lugs 32. This means F, for each display device C, is provided to ma ntain the said device in a osition closing its respective perforation W en no current is conducted by the coil 30.

Referring now to the switch mechanism H,

' one switch being provided for each seat of the theater, it comprises a casing 35, preferably of insulation, sup orted by the frame 36 of the seats, as at 3?, clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings; a reciprocable upright 38 extending through casing 35, and carrying a switch point 39; an expansion spring 40 about upright 37 inter )osedbetween the head 41 thereof, and e cas ng 35; and a switch point 41 rigid with casing 35, with which the switch point 39 engages when the upright 38 moves upwardly to its limit, responsive to the action of spring 40. The head 41 of upright 38 engages the under side of seat G so that when said seat is not occupied, switch points 39 and 41 will engag to complete a circuit as hereinafter set forth. hen the seat is occu ied, it bears down upon upright 38, breaking the circuit at points 39 and 41, and the circuit is so maintained broken so long as the seat is occupied.

The generator J is rovided as a source of electrical energy to e conducted through the coils 30 of each dis lay device C. t may also furnish ener I or the illuminating means K as clearly s own in the diagrammatic view in Fig. 2,. One pole of the generator J is in conducting communication with each switch point 41 as by wires 44, and with one lead of the illuminating means K. The other pole of the generator is in conducting communication with the other lead of illuminating means K, and with each switch point 39, as by wire 45, the coils 31 being interposed in the branches 46 of wire 45.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows Assuming that the theater is partially filled, wherever a seat is occupied, the circuit through switch means H will be broken and the display devices C representing the occupied seats will assume a osition, in the example shown, by closing t e perforations of the display boards,so as to indicate that they are occupied. A patron upon approaching the board may observe the vacant seats due to the position of such dis lay devices G as are actuated to open t eir respective perforations, due to the current flowing through their respective coils, the

circuits being completed at the unoccupied seats. If the display devices carry delineations designating the aisle and seats the represent, the illuminating means K wil make such delineations clearly visible and a patron may select the desired seat. As soon as the selected seat is occupied, the circuit is broken at its switch means and the particular display device associated therewith moves to a position to indicate that the seat is occupied.

It may not be necessary to bring the apparatus into use when a theater is first opened or while illuminated to an extent where patrons may detect the vacant seats so that there is no consumption of electric energy before or after acts, unless it is desired to display the board in the foyer of the theater. Very little current is required to energize the coils 30, and, since the seats of the theater are usually more than half occupied during business hours, it is preferred to utilize the electric current to designate vacant seats.

Changes in details may be made without departin from the spirit or scope of my invention flout,

I claim 1. A vacant seat detector for theaters comprising in combination, a display board provided with a plurality of per orations arranged according to the seating plan of the theater, illuminating means to one side of said display board, shutters for each perforation, each shutter capable of swinging motion to render its respective perforation in a closed condition or an open condition, eleotro-magnetic means for each shutter to actuate the same rendering its respective perforation in one of the said conditions, and mechanical means for each shutter to actuate the same rendering its respective perforation in the other of said conditions.

2. In a vacant seat detector for theaters, the combination of a plurality of display devices arranged according to the plan of the theater and each carrying delineations signifying the particular seat it represents, said devices capable of movement independently one of another and in one position si nifving that its respective seat is occupied, and in another position that such is vacant, electro-magnetic means for each device to maintain, when energized, its respective device in one of the said positions, and mechanical means for each device subordinate to said electro-magnetic means to maintain its respective device in the other of said positions when said electro-magnetic means is not energized.

3. In a vacant seat detector for theaters, the combination of a plurality of display devices arranged according to the plan of the theater, said devices capable of movement independently one of another and in one position si ifying that its respective seat is occupie and in another osition that such is vacant, electro-ma etic means for each device to maintain, w en energized, its respective device in one of the said positions, an mechanical means for each device subordinate to said electro-magnetic means to maintain its' respective device in the other of said positions'when said electro-magnetic means is not energized.

4. In a vacant seat detector for theaters, the combination of a display board provided with a plurality of perforations arranged according to the seating plan of the theater, illuminating means to one side of said display board, a shutter for each perforation, each shutter capable of swinging motion to render its respective perforation in a closed condition or an open condition, electro-magnetic means for each shutter to actuate the same renderin its respective perforation in an open con ition, and mechanical means for each shutter to actuate the same rendering its respective. perforation in a closed position.

5. In a vacant seat detector for theaters, the combination of a plurality of display devices arranged according to the seatin plan of the theater, said devices ca able 0 rotation independently one of anot er and in one position signifying that its respective seat is occupied, and in another osition that such isvacant, an electric coil or each display device, a permanent bar ma et rigid with each display device adapte to move into and out of parallelism with said coil, mechanical means for maintaining said bar in parallelism with said coil when the latter is not energized and with its respective display device in one of the said positions, and means for energizing said coil.

6. In a vacant seat detector fortheaters, the combination of a plurality of display devices arranged according to the seating plan of the theater, said devices ca able of rotation independently one of anot er and in one position signifying that its respective seat is occupied,- and in another osition that.

such is vacant, an electric coil or each display device, a magnetic bar adapted to move into and out of parallelism with said coil lugs at each side of the axis ofrotation of each display device and carried thereby, a spring for engagement with said lugs, said lugs arranged relative to said magnetic bar so that when said s' ring engages oth lugs, said bar is in para lelism to said coil, and with said display device in one of said positions, and means for ener 'zin said coil;

JOHN J HNSON. 

